Local footy: WRFL power Deer Park set to roll out nine recruits in 2021

The Lions are set to field a new-look line-up under new coach Mark McGoldrick in the WRFL next season.

Former AFL player Jack Redpath has re-signed at Deer Park. Picture: Cody Bench Photography

Deer Park’s transformation is complete as the Western Region Football League powerhouse chases an eighth consecutive premiership in 2021.

The Lions have locked in their senior squad for next season after a long list of departures since the Division 1 club’s 2019 triumph.

While plenty of talent has exited, Deer Park has also secured some well-credentialed players in ex-AFL pair Todd Elton (Hastings) and Damien Cavka (Keilor).

Billy Cannolo has made the move from VFL outfit Coburg, while Altona junior PJ Manivong has returned to the WRFL after stints at Camperdown and St Kevin’s.

Williamstown-listed Bailey Morrish is set to be an aligned player at the Lions unless he fails to win a state league contract for next year, while Mernda young gun Nick Alekovski has also linked up with the Lions. The duo were the last to put pen to paper.

Deer Park has also retained its 2020 recruits in former AFL star Brendan Fevola, ex-VFL defender Ryley Barrack and forward Lachlan Smart, who made the move from Division 1 rival Sunshine.

Deer Park celebrates a seventh consecutive WRFL Division 1 flag in 2019. Picture: Facebook

“We’re just so happy with what we’ve done,” new coach Mark McGoldrick said.

“We’ve certainly changed the demographic from being an old, experienced team to a younger, youthful-looking team, which is obviously what we had to do to try and change it for the future.

“Our recruiting motto was to try and go as young as we possibly could, and more importantly people who lived on this side of the (West Gate) Bridge because a lot of our blokes were travelling from the other side of town, which was always a worry.

“We’re not going to be as strong as we ever were, but we’re still building something again. We’ll start again and we’ll build again.”

Morrish, who stands 186cm, will take his place in the midfield when available. He has taken the field 11 times for Williamstown at senior level and was expected to challenge for a regular spot in the Seagulls’ side before the season was canned.

“We were stoked to get him across the line,” McGoldrick said.

“He just fitted in with what we’ve done all pre-season, he’s young, and we think he’ll be a good long-term player for us.

“He’s got a beautiful left foot, which is always a bonus, is a good user of the ball, very brave and more importantly he’s just a terrific young man. He’s a very impressive kid to talk to.”

Mark McGoldrick is back for a third stint as coach at Deer Park. Picture: Supplied

Alekovski was crowned the NFL under-19 Division 2 league best-and-fairest last year and will bolster the attacking half.

With Fevola, Jack Redpath, James Wong, Smart and Alekovski, McGoldrick said his forward line was coming together nicely despite the losses of champions Kwame McHarg, Chris Stewart and Jase Perkins.

“He (Alekovski) is a goalkicker, very strong overhead for his size and super, super quick,” McGoldrick said.

“We need small goalkickers, obviously losing Kwame who was a good onballer and goalkicker.

“We’re never going to cover Stewart and Kwame, but we think we’ve given the club a lot more depth and a more secure future.”

Forward Elton, who is close friends with assistant coach Fevola, spent six years on Richmond’s list from 2012-17 and made 10 senior appearances.

Hard-running Cavka has made 16 appearances for Keilor over the past three seasons, including just two in 2019, after calling time on his AFL career with West Coast because of a hereditary foot condition.

Midfielder/forward Cannolo has played 27 games for Coburg in the past two seasons after coming through Calder Cannons.

Manivong has spent time at the Western Jets and in Werribee’s development squad, can also fill a role in the midfield or forward half and claimed four consecutive league best-and-fairest awards as a junior player at Altona.

Jackson Barling, Max Bruin, Troy Kelm, Shaun Harrison, Shannon Byrnes, Daniel Cooper and Kevin Klix have also left the club.

McGoldrick coached the Lions from 1993-1996 before returning and holding the top job from 1999-2000.

He said he was looking forward to taking charge of a young team after a changing of the guard, with club captain Jack Purton-Smith, Fevola and Redpath appointed playing assistants.

“It’s exciting from the club’s point of view and a coach’s point of view,” McGoldrick said.

“It’s made me feel like a young man again to be honest with you.

“I haven’t coached for 20 years…but when I’m out riding a bike or doing exercise, sometimes the emotion hits me that I’m coaching again and I actually feel sick in my stomach.

“But I’ve had a great reception from the players who stayed at the club and obviously I’ve been able to tell the right story to the ones who are coming to the club.

“We’ve just got to back in our systems that we’ve had in the past.”